Bayraktar KALKAN VTOL UAV tested on Turkish warships

Baykar has successfully conducted new testing phases for the Bayraktar KALKAN, a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), on various naval platforms. The tests were aimed at expanding the capabilities of the Turkish Navy to operate unmanned aircraft from different types of warships.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, flight tests were completed successfully on both the TCG Anadolu, one of Turkey’s largest warships, and the MİLGEM Ada-class corvette TCG Burgazada. The ability to operate from a smaller corvette demonstrates the versatility of the KALKAN's VTOL design, which does not require a runway or extensive deck space.

The KALKAN is primarily developed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence missions. Previous testing has verified autonomous flight functions, including automatic route following, target tracking, and return-to-home capabilities. The platform is also designed for day and night operations using electro-optical systems.